Composers: Kabalevsky
Compositions: Symphonies Nos 1 and 2
Performers: Malmö SO/Darrell Ang
Catalogue Number: NAXOS 8573859

Dmitry Kabalevsky (1904-1987) is remembered as the archetypal Soviet composer. He toed the official line, writing music specifically for young people, and when his name initially came up on Stalin’s hit list he used his Communist Party connections to substitute that of his inoffensive teacher Myaskovsky. His music invariably shows a light touch, a gift for memorable themes, and rhythmic vitality. One such piece, which became popular in the West, is the overture to Colas Breugnon, his opera of 1938. With its busy strings and...